The alligator gar is the largest of seven species of gar found in North America, Central America, and Cuba. New all-tackle world record alligator gar weighed 327 lbs and was estimated at 99 years old by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. The fish was caught from Lake Chotard in Mississippi by a commercial fisherman; however, historic observations and photographs suggest they can attain weights and lengths of up to 350 lbs. and 10 feet in length. This species, the largest in the Mississippi River Valley, once had a range that spread across most large river systems and tributaries from the Gulf of Mexico states of the U.S. and Mexico upstream into the Ohio River Valley. However, recent surveys suggest populations are far below historic levels and could be declining further. In some northern states they are believed to have been extirpated or reduced in number to non-vaible populations requiring reintroductions through stockings in some locations. For these reasons they have been identified as an imperiled species by the American Fisheries Society and a focal species of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Numerous states have already or are in the process of increasing conservation and management through regulations, habitat restoration, and stocking.

The Alligator Gar Technical Committee consists of multiple state agencies, universities, and nations dedicated to furthering the conservation, research, and management of alligator gar through collaboration and information sharing. One of the primary efforts of the technical committee is improving our knowledge and understanding of alligator gar and their status. New information is shared through annual meetings of the technical committe and it is our hope that this website will assist in these efforts by providing a conduit for communication and a repository of information about alligator gar.

The technical committee holds annual meetings to provide a collaborative and informational network of fisheries professionals interested in the conservation and management of alligator gar. The goal of this group will be to facilitate fisheries managers and researchers in efforts to monitor and manage all aspects of alligator gar. Anticipated actions include, but are not limited to, conducting population assessments, serving as an information repository, conducting age and growth studies, habitat and movement studies, defining population genetics and developing culture and stocking needs as deemed necessary to develop a life history for the species, determine their status range wide, and to promote coordinated conservation, research, and management across their natural range.

This website is will be revised as new information is gathered and can be uploaded. Check back often for updates.
Please contact Lindsey Lewis with questions, comments, or any contributions you would like to add regarding this site.